Football Notes: Referees To Use Vanishing Spray At FIFA Club World Cup

FIFA has confirmed that "it is to allow referees to use vanishing spray to mark out the distance for defensive walls at the Club World Cup next month." The spray allows officials "to paint a white line on the field that marks out the minimum 10-yard (9.15 meters) distance opposition players are required to stand from a free kick." The line "disappears after one minute" (ESPN, 11/21). ... The UEFA Club Financial Control Body investigatory chamber announced that six clubs involved in the '13-14 UEFA club competitions have been referred to the CFCB adjudicatory chamber. The clubs are Skonto FC (LVA), WKS Śląsk Wrocław (POL), Vitória SC (POR), CS Pandurii Târgu Jiu (ROU), FC Petrolul Ploieşti (ROU) and FC Metalurh Donetsk (UKR). A final decision is expected to be taken before the end of the year (UEFA). ... FIFA have reportedly downgraded South Africa’s 1-0 win over Spain on Tuesday night "to a practice match, after substitution rules were broken" (FOOTBALL ESPANA, 11/21). ... The Asian Football Confederation, "blighted for years by a series of match-fixing scandals among member associations, has struck a deal with Sportsradar to help prevent further fraud."
The partnership will see Sportsradar, which says "it processes 432 million odds movements per day at over 350 bookmakers in Asia and Europe, monitor matches at regional tournaments, including the 2015 Asian Cup, AFC Champions League and AFC Cup" (REUTERS, 11/21).